You may have never had your home burglarized, but no doubt you know someone who has. These situations are happening more and more frequently. Break-ins can occur anywhere. This article discusses what you are able to do to enhance your home’s security.

Your dog can safeguard an extra key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. You’ll find a wide range of prices from different companies. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Make sure you check references. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. Do not give in, even if a person uses a convincing story, asks for help or says they are selling something. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. Knowledge of first-hand experiences can be very helpful to you when it comes to making this important decision. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Store your car in the garage if you have it. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

Put up motion activated lighting. They turn on only if someone is nearby. The lights will notify you of motion and also deter would be burglars. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. While the person you bought the home from may seem on the up and up, you have no idea who they really are. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The copper wiring can be stripped and be turned in for money. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. The previous owner may be perfectly respectable, but you can’t know that for sure. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Motion sensitive lights are an inexpensive way to increase your home’s security. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

Before you give a security company employee access to your home, make sure they’re in uniform and that they present acceptable identification. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Be very careful with who you let into your home.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Avoid thinking that home burglaries only happen at the most expensive houses. Thieves will hit any home that looks easy to get into. You can take the proper steps now to make sure you and your family feel safe and protected within your home.

Do your landscaping keeping safety in mind. Do not obstruct doors and windows with plants or furniture. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.